The article investigates the relation between nautical tourism and urban tourism in the frame of urban transformation processes of the Adriatic region. From this standpoint, nautical tourism emerges as a phenomenon imbued with spatial creativity, that is to say it could re-create lateral and eterarchich urban networks based on processes of social imagination. The authors discuss this assessment by analysing a number of empirical data collected among the Adriatic boaters and sailers. Also, the authors try to point out some guidelines for the development of an Adriatic urban tourism offer, which could be compatible with the emerging demands of nautical tourism.
Keywords: Tourism, Navigation, City, Adriatic, Diportismo, Sail.